FIVE Crewe schools are to benefit from a share of a #6.5m cash injection to boost education standards in hard-up areas.

FIVE Crewe schools are to benefit from a share of a #6.5m cash injection to boost education standards in hard-up areas.

The cash from the Department of Education and Skills is to help tackle poor classroom behaviour, provide support to struggling pupils and stretch the abilities of gifted youngsters.

It is being awarded under the new Excellence Clusters Programme to schools in 12 areas including Crewe, Wigan and Stockport in the North West to help pupils at both ends of the academic spectrum.

Victoria Community High, Coppenhall High, Ruskin High, King's Grove School and St Thomas More Roman Catholic High School in Crewe will each get a share of the handout during 2002.

It will allow each school to develop activities in class and outside normal lessons and offer star pupils enrichment work to cover music, art and PE as well as core academic subjects.

Full details have yet to be ironed out, but they could be given the chance to take more unusual GCSE subjects in their own time, join Saturday morning master classes and get a taste of university life at summer schools.

A Department for Education spokesman said the Clusters scheme had been set up to support schools in cities and in 'smaller pockets of disadvantage'.

He said: 'Young people in the new Clusters will benefit from Learning Mentors to provide specialist help and guidance, extra provision for gifted pupils and Learning Support Units to give children with behaviour problems specialist help without disrupting the education fo their classmates.'

Learning Mentors will come from all walks of life, including former teachers, nurses and social workers.

The coaching will have a particular focus on helping youngsters experiencing problems in coping at school, possibly through falling victim to bullying, regular truancy, or as a result of family difficulties.

High rates of unemployment, teenage pregnancy and family stress linked to social deprivation made Crewe a priority area.

Crewe and Nantwich MP Gwyneth Dunwoody (Labour) said the programme could mean more cash for town schools in years to come.

She said: 'Crewe has fantastic teachers who work very hard. They deserve proper support and the programme will make sure they get it.'